Feature Article: National Safety Month




June has been donned "National Safety Month" by the National Safety Council - the theme for the year is "Celebrating Safe Communities." There is an emphasis on four separate categories for June focus: CPR awareness, driving, poison preparedness, and falls prevention. In each of these environments, we can each take small steps to make a big difference.

Consider these facts, from the National Safety Council website:

CPR/AED Awareness
Update your training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator. It may already be a requirement for your job, particularly if you work in a healthcare setting.

• 300,000 Americans experience sudden cardiac arrest each year.
• 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before arriving at the hospital.
• Effective bystander CPR delivered immediately after cardiac arrest - before medical personnel have time to arrive - can double a victim's chance of survival.

Click here for a downloadable tip poster on CPR awareness (PDF).

Driving
When you drive, just drive. Avoiding distractions (including cell phones, eating and personal hygiene) can greatly decrease your chances of having an accident.

• Recent National Safety Council data reveal a 19 percent decrease in the rate of death from motor vehicle collisions since 1992.
• Still, with nearly 45,000 fatalities a year, motor vehicle collisions remain the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.

Click here for a downloadable tip poster on safe driving (PDF).

Unintentional Poisoning
Any drug can be dangerous if it's misused. Know your risks and the risks of others in your household.

• Educate yourself, your family and your employees or colleagues about the risks associated with prescription drugs.
• Never take someone else's medication.
• Take all drugs only as prescribed.
• Know what medicines are in your home and pay attention to their quantities.

Click here for a downloadable tip poster on accidental poisoning (PDF).

Falls Prevention
People aged 75 and older are the fastest growing demographic in the United States.

• Among older Americans, falls have been identified as a large and growing health issue, affecting about 8,000 people every day.
• Falls are a leading cause of unintentional injury and death, and the leading cause of unintentional injury among the elderly.
• As the U.S. population ages, the urgency of this issue - and need for comprehensive falls-prevention research and education - will only increase. Falls among the aging are, indeed, a concern; however, that's not where the concern ends. Take care in your home and in your workplace to protect yourself and your family, no matter your age.

Click here for a downloadable tip poster on falls prevention (PDF).